Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – 7/7/25… Today, Chairman Mike Lawler (NY-17) of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), today introduced the Protecting American Diplomats Act, legislation requiring the State Department to evaluate and report on the adequacy of counterintelligence (CI) training for personnel assigned to high-risk diplomatic posts.

The legislation directs the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress assessing the content, frequency, and regional specificity of CI training, identifying any gaps in preparedness, and offering recommendations to improve the Department’s CI posture. The report must also review inter agency coordination and the eligibility of various categories of State personnel to receive such training.

“Whether serving in conflict zones or confronting complex foreign adversaries, our diplomats deserve the highest level of training and protection,” said Chairman Lawler. “This bill ensures we’re doing everything we can to safeguard them against espionage and other hostile threats.”

The Protecting American Diplomats Act is part of a broader legislative package spearheaded by Chairman Lawler to modernize and strengthen the operations of the State Department. The package includes proposals to streamline outdated processes, update legacy authorities, enhance counterterrorism capabilities, and ensure accountability within the Department.

As Chairman of the MENA Subcommittee, which holds jurisdiction over both the State Department’s Bureau of Management and Bureau of Counterterrorism, Lawler is leveraging his role to advance reforms that support a more agile and effective foreign policy.

Each of these bills, including the Protecting American Diplomats Act, has been submitted for consideration in the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s State Department reauthorization. 

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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Full text of the bill can be found  HERE.